Lava Man's career could be over

DEL MAR, Calif. - Lava Man, the $50,000 claimer who went on to win seven Grade 1 races and earn more than $5 million, may have run his last race.

Monday, a day after Lava Man finished last of six in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar, owners Steve Kenly and Jason Wood and trainer Doug ONeill were debating the future of the 7-year-old gelding.

Early in the morning, Kenly and ONeill said they were likely to retire Lava Man. By late morning, they had backed away from that position, Kenly said.

We decided, Lets rest on it for a week and reflect, see how the horse is doing, he said. Well take our time.

Im kind of getting tugged all over the place, he said. My first thought after the race was we witnessed the end of the era.

But Kenly admitted that he could not bring himself to say that Lava Man had been retired.

Its definitely on the table that he will be put out to pasture somewhere, he said. Im having a hard time saying the word.

Aside from Wood, Kenly co-owns Lava Man with his father and sister, Dave and Tracy.

There was a difference of thought within the Lava Man camp. Monday, ONeill was leaning toward retiring Lava Man, and even suggested that the gelding be given a lengthy break and made into a stable pony.

ONeill, who has trained Lava Man since he was claimed for $50,000 on Aug. 13, 2004, was advising Wood and Kenly to end the geldings career.

Were definitely kicking him out and retirement is the right word, he said. The thing that makes it tough is that he looks so well. I think it's time to hang up the glue-on shoes.

Lava Man is on a six-race losing streak. In Sundays Eddie Read, he stalked pacesetter Storm Military to the eighth pole and faded to finish 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner, Monzante. Lava Man has lost three races this year, including a third, by a neck, in the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 7.

His most recent win came in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup in June 2007, his third consecutive win in that race. Lava Man joined Native Diver (1965-67) as the only three-time winners of the Gold Cup. Lava Mans other Grade 1 wins have come in consecutive runnings of the Santa Anita Handicap in 2006-07, the 2006 Pacific Classic, and the 2006 Whittingham.

A California-bred, Lava Man has earned $5,268,706 in his 46-race career, which includes 17 wins. He has earned $5,170,103 since being claimed.